Fuel Pump Module Feed-Line Filter Hose
A fuel pump module includes a fuel module flange covering and sealing an opening in a fuel tank of a vehicle. The flange has a top connector extending outside the fuel tank for delivering fuel to an engine, and a bottom connector extending inside the fuel tank and in fluid communication with the top connector. A filter hose includes a flexible tubular shell having first and second ends and an interior, and flexible filter structure disposed within the interior of the shell. The module includes a fuel pump. The first end of the shell is coupled to the bottom connector of the flange and the second end of the shell is coupled to an outlet of the fuel pump so that the filter structure filters fuel exiting the outlet of the pump so that filtered fuel can be delivered through the flange to the engine.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/579,110, filed on Dec. 22, 2012.
FIELDThis invention relates to fuel supply units for automobile vehicles and, more particularly, to a filter hose for a fuel pump module of a fuel supply unit.
BACKGROUNDWith reference to
The fuel pump module 34 performs the main functions of cleaning the fuel, transferring cleaned fuel from the fuel tank to the engine under pressure and indicates the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank 14. When fuel is filled in the tank 14, it has to be cleaned to remove the debris arising from within or external to the fuel system. This is presently performed by the use of a course filter (not shown) at the inlet of the fuel pump 28 and the fine filter 24 at the outlet 26 of the fuel pump 28. The filter 24 removes smaller particles exiting the fuel pump 28 and from external sources to eliminate the possibility of a blockage in the fuel injector/engine.
Thus, in the conventional fuel pump module 34, three components, the filter 24 and feed hoses 22 and 30 are required to filter the fuel that exits the fuel pump 28. There is a need to filter fuel exiting a fuel pump using fewer components to simplify manufacturing and assembly and to reduce cost and weight.
SUMMARYAn objective of the invention is to fulfill the need referred to above. In accordance with the principles of an embodiment, this objective is achieved by a filter hose including a flexible tubular shell having first and second ends and an interior. The ends are constructed and arranged to be coupled between an outlet of a fuel pump and a fuel module flange that is constructed and arranged to deliver fuel to an engine of a vehicle. A flexible filter structure is disposed within the interior of the shell. When the shell is coupled between the fuel pump and the fuel pump module flange, the filter structure is constructed and arranged to filter fuel exiting the outlet of the fuel pump so that filtered fuel can be delivered through the fuel module flange and thus to the engine.
In accordance with another aspect of an embodiment, a fuel pump module for supplying fuel to a vehicle's engine is provided. The fuel pump module includes a fuel module flange constructed and arranged to cover and seal an opening in a fuel tank of the vehicle. The fuel module flange has a top connector extending outside the fuel tank for delivering fuel to an engine, and a bottom connector extending inside the fuel tank and in fluid communication with the top connector. A filter hose of the fuel pump module includes a flexible tubular shell having first and second ends and an interior, and flexible filter structure disposed within the interior of the shell. The fuel pump module includes a fuel pump. The first end of the shell is coupled to the bottom connector of the fuel module flange and the second end of the shell is coupled to an outlet of the fuel pump so that the filter structure filters fuel exiting the outlet of the pump so that filtered fuel can be delivered through the fuel module flange to the engine.
In accordance with yet another aspect of an embodiment, a method provides a fuel pump module for delivering fuel to an engine of a vehicle. The method provides a fuel pump in a fuel tank of a vehicle. A filter hose includes a flexible tubular shell having first and second ends and an interior and flexible filter structure disposed within the interior of the shell. The first end of the shell is coupled to a bottom connector of a fuel module flange, inside the fuel tank. The second end of the shell is coupled to an outlet of the fuel pump.
Other objectives, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and the functions of the related elements of the structure, the combination of parts and economics of manufacture will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification.
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:
With reference to
With reference to
The tubular shell 42 is preferably made of nylon. In the embodiment, the outer diameter of the shell 42 is preferably about 2 cm and the shell 42 has a length preferably of about 40 cm.
As shown in
As shown in
The filter hose 38 is preferably not a serviceable item so there is no need for removing or replacing the hose 38. The filter hose 38 reduces the number of components used in a fuel pump module thereby reducing cost, minimizes packaging, improves quality by reducing manufacturing complexities, and reduces the overall weight of the fuel pump module, which possibly increases gas mileage of a vehicle.
The foregoing preferred embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the structural and functional principles of the present invention, as well as illustrating the methods of employing the preferred embodiments and are subject to change without departing from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A filter hose comprising:
- a flexible tubular shell having first and second ends and an interior, the ends being constructed and arranged to be coupled between an outlet of a fuel pump and a fuel module flange that is constructed and arranged to deliver fuel to an engine of a vehicle, and
- flexible filter structure disposed within the interior of the shell,
- wherein, when shell is coupled between the outlet of the fuel pump and the fuel module flange, the filter structure is constructed and arranged to filter fuel exiting the fuel pump so that filtered fuel can be delivered through the fuel module flange and thus to the engine.
2. The filter hose of claim 1, wherein the filter structure includes a plurality of filter media walls defining a plurality of adjacent first and second channels.
3. The filter hose of claim 2, wherein each first channel is open at a first end thereof for receiving fuel from the fuel pump, and each first channel is closed at a second end thereof, each second channel is closed at a first end thereof that is adjacent to a first end of a first channel, and each second channel is open at a second end that is adjacent to a second end of a first channel, so that the fuel from the fuel pump is filtered as it passes through the walls with the filtered fuel entering the second channels to be delivered to the engine via the fuel module flange.
4. The filter hose of claim 2, wherein the walls are in the form of tubes.
5. The filter hose of claim 2, wherein each of the filter media walls is a single piece extrusion.
6. The filter hose of claim 2, wherein each of the filter media walls comprises two separate parts that are joined together.
7. The filter hose of claim 2, wherein each of the filter media walls is a single part having two ends, the end being joined to define a generally cylindrical tube.
8. The filter of claim 1, wherein the shell is made of nylon.
9. A fuel pump module for supplying fuel to a vehicle's engine, the fuel pump module comprising:
- a fuel module flange constructed and arranged to cover and seal an opening in a fuel tank of the vehicle, the fuel module flange having a top connector extending outside the fuel tank for delivering fuel to an engine, and a bottom connector extending inside the fuel tank and in fluid communication with the top connector,
- a filter hose comprising: a flexible tubular shell having first and second ends and an interior, and flexible filter structure disposed within the interior of the shell, and a fuel pump,
- wherein the first end of the shell is coupled to the bottom connector of the fuel module flange and the second end of the shell is coupled to an outlet of the fuel pump so that the filter structure filters fuel exiting the outlet of the pump so that filtered fuel can be delivered through the fuel module flange to the engine.
10. The module of claim 9, wherein the filter structure includes a plurality of filter media walls defining a plurality of adjacent first and second channels.
11. The module of claim 10, wherein each first channel is open at a first end thereof for receiving fuel from the fuel pump, and each first channel is closed at a second end thereof, each second channel is closed at a first end thereof that is adjacent to a first end of a first channel, and each second channel is open at a second end that is adjacent to a second end of a first channel, so that the fuel from the pump is filtered as it passes through the walls with the filtered fuel entering the second channels to be delivered to the engine via the fuel module flange.
12. The module of claim 10, wherein the walls are in the form of tubes.
13. The module hose of claim 10, wherein each of the filter media walls is a single piece extrusion.
14. The module of claim 10, wherein each of the filter media walls comprises two separate parts that are joined together.
15. The module of claim 10, wherein each of the filter media walls is a single part having two ends, the end being joined to define a generally cylindrical tube.
16. The module of claim 9, wherein the shell is made of nylon.
17. The module of claim 9, further comprising a reservoir, the pump being disposed in the reservoir.
18. A method of providing a fuel pump module for delivering fuel to an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel pump in a fuel tank of a vehicle,
- providing a filter hose including a flexible tubular shell having first and second ends and an interior, and flexible filter structure disposed within the interior of the shell,
- coupling the first end of the shell to a bottom connector of a fuel module flange, inside the tank, and
- coupling the second end of the shell to an outlet of the fuel pump.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the filter structure of the filter hose is provided as a plurality of filter media walls defining a plurality of adjacent first and second channels.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein each first channel is open at a first end thereof for receiving fuel from the fuel pump, and each first channel is closed at a second end thereof, each second channel is closed at a first end thereof that is adjacent to a first end of a first channel, and each second channel is open at a second end that is adjacent to a second end of a first channel, so that the fuel from the fuel pump is filtered as it passes through the walls with the filtered fuel entering the second channels to be delivered to the engine via the fuel module flange.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 11, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 27, 2013
Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC. (Auburn Hills, MI)
Inventor: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Auburn Hills, MI)
Application Number: 13/710,514
International Classification: F04B 53/20 (20060101); B01D 29/00 (20060101);